Optical annunciator

ABSTRACT

An optical annunciator in which any one of alternate visual displays is revealed for viewing over the entire obverse surface of a lenticulate lens by the displacement of display means juxtaposed with the reverse surface of the lenticulate lens, the display means including alternate visual displays, each divided into portions, each portion of a display being located between adjacent portions of another display, and masking means for blocking from view those portions of the display means which do not form a part of the revealed display.

United States Patent [is] 3,660,919 Nagel 1 May 9, 1972 s41 OPTICALANNUNCIATOR 771,324 9/1904 Ives ..40/137 [72] Inventor: Robert I. N888],Skokie, lll. PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: 11:12:11 E nCorporation, New York. 595,2 "4 19 0 Canada 40 137 [22] Filed: June 26,1970 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-J. H. Wolff[2H App! 50043 Attorney-Samuelson&1acob 52 us. CI ..40/78.03,40/106,40/51, ABSTRACT I Int Cl An optical annunciator in which any one ofalternate visual displays is revealed for viewing over the entireobverse surface [58] Search A5H f fi w' i of a lenticulate lens by thedisplacement of display means juxtaposed with the reverse surface of thelenticulate lens, the display means including alternate visual displays,each divided [56] References Cited into portions, each portion of adisplay being located between UNITED STATES PATENTS adjacent portions ofanother display, and masking means for 3 538 632 1 H1970 A d 350/! xblocking from view those portions of the display means WhlCh y erso" Hdo not form a art of the revealed dis la 3,085,473 4/1963 Bourgeaux eta1... ..350/l67 X p P y 3,562,941 2/1971 Boden ..40/IO6.53

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\NVENTOR ROBERT I. NRGEL HTTORN vs The present invention relatesgenerally to annunciators and pertains, more specifically, to an opticalannunciator which relies only upon external, or ambient, light forvisually revealing that which is to be indicated by the annunciator.

Annunciators are commonly employed to provide visual indications of theposition of various actuators, operators, and like controls or toindicate the condition of various control circuits, such as electrical,hydraulic and fluidic circuits.

Among the most common annunciators are indicator lamps which are usuallyilluminated to indicate the on position of a switch or to indicate anactive condition of an electric circuit. These lamps will remain unlitto indicate the off" position of the switch or an inactive condition ofthe circuit. Indicator lamps require electric current for theiroperation and are therefore not the most feasible type of annunciator ininstallations where electric current is not readily available.Additionally, certain environments mitigate against the use ofelectrically operated devices in that these devices would eitherintroduce a hazard into the environment, or the environment may causerapid deterioration and failure of the electrical components of theannunciator. Furthermore, the failure of a lamp, or its relatedcircuitry, which is generally unpredictable, will result in a consequentfailure to provide a required indication.

Mechanical annunciators are also available which merely display acharacter, a word, or a particular color to indicate the position of aswitch or the condition of a circuit, or to pro- .vide a wide variety ofother indications. However, the visual indications provided by suchmechanical annunciators have been rather meager in proportion to thesize and bulk of the annunciator mechanisms and large, clearly visibleindications have not been available without the presence of a large,bulky annunciator mechanism.

It is therefore an important object of the invention to provide anannunciator which exhibits a relatively large and legible indication ina device which is relatively small and compact and which may be operatedentirely by mechanical means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an annunciator which makesuse of optical components to exhibit a visual indication or displaythrough the use of available ambient light without requiring electriccurrent.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device whichexhibits an apparently large change in a visual indication with arelatively small amount of mechanical movement of the componentsthereof, thereby enabling such a large change to take place with aminimal expenditure of mechanical energy.

A further object of the invention is to provide an optical annunciatorwhich is compact and which will provide a desired indication viewableover a relatively wide angle of view and without the presence of falseindications.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an opticalannunciator which is exceedingly simple in design and construction,requiring a minimum number of component parts which are easilyfabricated and readily assembled.

The above objects, as well as still further objects and advantages, areattained by the invention which may be described briefly as an opticalannunciator for selectively revealing one of alternate visual displaysfor viewing along a given direction of view, the optical annunciatorcomprising a lenticulate lens having an obverse surface including aplurality of elongate lenticular lens elements of prescribed lateralwidth, each having a plane of symmetry aligned generally parallel withthe direction of view and dividing the width, and a reverse surfaceincluding a plurality of areas corresponding to the lenticular lenselements, each area being centered about the plane of symmetry of acorresponding lenticular lens element and having a lateral width betweenopposite edges less than the lateral width of the correspondinglenticular lens element such that adjacent areas are spaced from oneanother in directions transverse to the planes of symmetry, the contourof each lenticular lens element being such that each area of the reversesurface is viewable along the direction of view at the obverse surfaceover essentially the entire corresponding len- -ticular lens element,display means juxtaposed with the reverse surface and includingalternate visual displays, each display being divided into a set ofdiscrete portions with each discrete portion of one set being locatedbetween adjacent discrete portions of another set, each discrete portionhaving a lateral extent corresponding generally to the lateral width ofeach area, and adjacent portions of each set being spaced apart adistance equal to the spacing between adjacent planes of symmetry suchthat all of the portions of one set may be simultaneously juxtaposedwith the areas, masking means for blocking from view, along directionsat angles to the planes of symmetry, further of the discrete portionswhich do not form a part of the one set, and means for selectivelymovingthe display means in increments of displacement transverse to the planesof symmetry of the lenticular lens elements, each incrementcorresponding at least to the width of each area of the reverse surfacesuch that any one of the alternate sets may be located for viewing overessentially the entire obverse surface.

The invention will be more fully understood, and still further objectsand advantages thereof will become apparent, in the following detaileddescription of an embodiment of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a front elevational view of an installed optical annunciatorconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the optical annunciator;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view, lined for color, of the display surfaceof the optical annunciator;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially lined for color, of aportion of FIG. 5;

FIG. Sis a front elevational view of another annunciator constructedin'accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 is a partially schematic topplan view of the annunciator of FIG.8, sectioned along line 9-9 of FIG. '10; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 ofFIG. 8.

Referring now to the drawing and especially to FIGS. 1 through 4, anoptical annunciator constructed in accordance with the invention isshown generally at 10. Optical annunciator 10 is illustrated as apart ofa push-button actuator which may be employed in connection with atwo-position device 12, such as a valve or an electric switch, toactuate the device between the two positions and to indicate which oneof the two positions the device 12 is in subsequent to the depression ofthe push-button. Thus, optical annunciator 10 has a housing 14 withinwhich there is mounted a push-button 16, the front face of the housingI4 including a window 20 for displaying one of two alternate visualdisplays which will indicate whether the device 12 is in an "ON"position or an "OFF" position;

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 14 of the annunciator 10 isordinarily mounted upon a panel 22 and the annunciator includes anactuator arm 24 which projects rearwardly through an opening 26 in thepanel 22 to engage the device to be operated, the device 12 beinglocated behind the panel 22. The push-button I6 is mounted for forwardand rearward sliding movement within the housing 14 between aforwardmost position, illustrated in FIG. 2, and a fully depressed,rearwardmost position. A pair of helical springs 28 resiliently biasesthe push-button 16 into its forwardmost position where the push-buttonis retained within the housing by the abutment of the rearwardmost endof a groove 30 in the push-button against a retaining screw 32.

The push-button 16 carries a pin 34 affixed therein for movement withthe push-button and a generally rectangular cam 36 is journaled upon thepin 34 with one corner of the rectangular cam engaging a finger 38 whichprojects laterally from the actuator arm 24. Upon depression of thepush-button 16, the rectangular cam 36 will rotate, as best seen in FIG.4, thereby urging the actuator arm 24 in a lateral or sidewisedirection. When the push-button 16 reaches its fully depressed position,the forwardmost end of the groove 30 therein will en- 'gage theretaining screw 32 and the rectangular cam 36 will have rotated through90 of rotation thereby presenting the shorter side of the rectangularcam 36 to the forward portion 40 of the actuator arm (as seen in phantomin FIGS. 3 and 4). Release of the push-button 16 allows the helicalsprings 28 to return the push-button to its forwardmost position. Uponsuch release, the shorter side of the rectangular cam 36 will merelyslide along the forward portion 40 of the actuator arm 24 so that theactuator arm will remain in the lateral position determined by thelocation of the shorter side of the rectangular cam. The alternatelateral position is determined by the location of a longer side of therectangular cam 36 when the rectangular cam is in the angular positionshown in full lines in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, each time the push-button 16is depressed, the rearward sliding movement of the push-button istranslated into a lateral displacement of the actuator arm 24 and theactuator arm is positively retained at one of two alternate lateralpositions, the first of which is shown in full lines in FIGS. 3 and 4and the second of which is shown in phantom.

The actuator arm itself has an upward extension 42 which is suspendedfrom a rod 44 which extends laterally within a carrier member 46 mountedfor lateral sliding movement within the housing 14 between the window 20and a rear cover plate 47. A helical spring 48 which extends between thehousing 14 and a retainer 50 affixed to the rod 44 biases the rod to theright, as viewed in FIG. 3, and into engagement with the upwardextension 42 of the actuator arm 24 to bias the actuator arm to theright so that the actuator arm 24 and the carrier member 46 are bothretained in the first lateral position determined by the location of thelonger side of the rectangular cam 36. Upon depression of thepush-button l6, and the concomitant rotation of the rectangular cam 36,the actuator arm 24 will be urged to the left, as viewed in FIG. 3,against the bias of the helical spring 48 to move the rod 44 to theleft. A second helical spring 52 extends between a shoulder 54in thecarrier member 46 and a head 56 which is integral with the right end ofthe rod 44, the second helical spring 52 having sufficient stiffness tocouple the rod the carrier member so that as the rod is moved to theleft the carrier member will also be moved to the left. Upon the arrivalof the carrier member at its leftmost position, the left end of thecarrier member will abut the left side of the housing at 58, thisleftmost position corresponding to the second lateral position of theactuator arm 24 determined by the location of the shorter side of therectangular cam 36. However, rotation of the rectangular cam through a90 displacement requires that the actuator arm move to the left beyondthe position corresponding to the leftmost position of the carriermember as the diagonal of the rectangular cam rotates past the forwardportion of the actuator arm. In order to accommodate such furthermovement, the second helical spring 52 will be compressed, enablingfurther leftward movement of the rod 44 after the carrier member 46 isstopped by virtue of the abutment of the carrier member against thehousing 14 at 58. In addition, the actuator arm may move to the leftbeyond the second lateral position by virtue of the extra width providedin the slot 60 within which the actuator arm is located. Thus, thecarrier member 46 is moved between two accurately defined positions andthe actual displacement of the carrier member is accomplished by aquickacting, snap-action mechanism.

Turning now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, as well as to FIG. 1, opticalannunciator is constructed to reveal one of two alternate displays inthe window 20, the revealed display indicating the position of theactuator arm 24. Thus, the legend OFF appears in the window when theactuator arm 24 and the carrier member 46 are in the position shown inFIG. 3, while the legend "ON" will appear in the window when theactuator arm is moved to the left, as viewed in FIG. 3, and the carriermember is moved to a corresponding position to the left of that positionshown in FIG. 3.

in order to selectively reveal one of the alternate visual displays forviewing, the window 20 is provided with a lenticulate lens 62 having anobverse surface 64 which includes a plurality of elongate lenticularlens elements 66. In this particular instance, the lenticular lenselements 66 have a prescribed length and width and extend parallel toone another along straight lines and generally perpendicular to thedirection in which the window is viewed, the planes of symmetry P of thelenticular lens elements being parallel.

Juxtaposed with the reverse surface 68 of the lenticulate lens 62 is adisplay means shown in the form of a display plate 70 carried by thecarrier member 46 for lateral displacement through the increment betweenthe aforesaid two positions of the carrier member. As best seen in FIG.6, the front surface of the display plate 70 carries the two alternatevisual displays, but each display is divided into a set of discreteportions, the portions of the first display (which corresponds to the"OFF" indication) being in the fonn of first strips 72 and the portionsof the second display (corresponding to the ON" indication) being in theform of second strips 74. Corresponding parts of adjacent portions ofeach set of portions are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacingbetween corresponding portions of adjacent lenticular lens elements 66.Thus, the center-tocenter distance between the strips 72 of the firstdisplay is equal to the lateral spacing between the adjacent planes ofsymmetry P of the lenticular lens elements 66. Likewise, thecenter-to-center distance between the strips 74 of the second display isequal to the lateral spacing between the adjacent planes of symmetry Pof adjacent lenticular lens elements.

The first visual display consists of the word Ol"-'l-' in white upon agreen background; therefore, some of the strips 72 are divided intozones 76 and 78, zones 76 being green and zones 78 being white. Thesecond visual display consists of the word ON" in black on a redbackground; therefore, some of the strips 74 are divided into zones 80and 82, zones 80 being red while zones 82 are black. it will be seenthat by integration of any one set of strips 72 or 74; that is, byplacing the strips of one set in contiguous side-by-side relationship, acomplete, legible display will appear.

As best seen in FIG. 7, the contour of each lenticular lens element 66is such that only a limited area 84 of the portion of the reversesurface 68 corresponding to each lenticular lens element 66 is viewablealong a direction of view D at the obverse surface 64 over essentiallythe entire corresponding lenticular lens element as demonstrated by theray-trace diagram illustrated in FIG. 7. Each of these areas 84 iscentered about the plane of symmetry P of a corresponding lenticularlens element and has a lateral width between opposite edges less thanthe lateral width of the corresponding lenticular lens element such thatadjacent areas are spaced from one another in directions transverse tothe planes of symmetry. The lateral width of each strip 72 and 74corresponds to the lateral width of each area so that when a set ofstrips, in this instance strips 72, is registered in properjuxtaposition with the plurality of areas 84, as illustrated in FIG. 7,each strip will be viewable over the entire obverse surface of thecorresponding lenticular lens element and adjacent strips of thatparticular set will be integrated optically to present a continuousvisual display corresponding to the zones of the strips which are soregistered with the plurality of areas on the reverse surface of thelenticulate lens. It will be seen that by displacing the carrier member46 laterally to locate the carrier member in either of the two alternatelateral positions, either one or the other set of strips 72 or 74 willbe juxtaposed in proper registration with the plurality of areas 84 toreveal either the first visual display or the second visual display. Thecontour of each lenticular lens element 66 is an aspheric profileproviding a short focal length such that each lenticular lens element isessentially filled with the image from the juxtaposed strip.

Because it is desirable that the particular visual display revealed inthe window 20 be viewable over a laterally extending field of view whichincludes directions of view at an angle to the planes of symmetry P, aswell as the direction of view D which is parallel with the planes ofsymmetry, without revealing the alternate visual display, so that falseindications with not occur, masking means are provided in the form of agrid 90 of opaque material for blocking from view, along thesedirections at angles to the planes of symmetry, the strips which do notform a part of the visual display revealed in the window. The grid 90includes bars 92 of opaque material which are contiguous with theopposite edges of each area 84 of the reverse surface 68 and the barsextend between confronting edges of adjacent areas. Each bar 92 of thegrid includes a stripe 94 of opaque material, preferably black, placedupon the reverse surface 68 of the lenticulate lens 62 between theconfronting edges. The lenticulate lens 62 is preferably fabricated of atransparent plastic molded in one piece. In order to facilitate accuratelocation and delineation of these stripes 94 of opaque material, thereverse surface 68 may be provided with recesses 96, each recess 96being located between the adjacent areas 84, and the opaque material maybe placed within the recesses 96.

Because there is always the possibility of some misalignment of thecarrier member 46 with respect to the lenticulate lens 62, due tomanufacturing tolerances and other limitations in the accuracy of matingcomponent parts, the strips of each display are provided with a lateralwidth of slightly less than one-half the width of a correspondinglenticular lens element and, since the center-to-center distance betweenadjacent strips 72 and 74 is one-half the width of a correspondinglenticular lens element, these adjacent strips 72 and 74 are laterallyspaced apart slightly and a band 98 of opaque material is placed uponthe display plate 70 between the adjacent strips. These bands 98 overlapthe stripes 94 of opaque material on the reverse surface 68 and serve asa barrier between adjacent strips 72 and 74 so that some slightmisalignment of the carrier member, in the order of magnitude of thewidth of each band 98, may be tolerated without revealing the strips ofthe visual display hidden behind the stripes 94 of opaque material. Thebands 98 are also preferably black.

In order to take full advantage of the available ambient light forexhibiting a particular visual display in the window 20, the lenticulatelens 62 is placed in the window with the lenticular lens elements 66oriented so that their lengths extend in a vertical direction. Such anorientation has been found to enhance the light gathering ability of thelenticulate lens. In addition, the strips of color which make up thevisual displays preferably include a photoluminescent materialresponsive to such incident ambient light. Paints and inks containingsuch materials are currently available commercially, some being known asDay-G paints and inks.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, another optical annunciatorconstructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated generally at100. Optical annunciator 100 is in the form of a fluid pressureresponsive indicator which may be employed in connection with ahydraulic, air or other fluidic system 112 to indicate the presence orabsence of a requisite fluid pressure at a particular point in thesystem 112. Thus, optical annunciator 100 has a housing 114 including aninlet 116 for communicating with a particular point in the fluidicsystem 112 via a fluid conduit 118, the front face of the housing 114including a window 120 for displaying one of two alternate visualdisplays which will indicate whether the requisite fluid pressure ispresent at the particular point in system 1 12.

As best seen in FIG. 10, inlet 116 of the housing 114 includes a passage122 which communicates with the interior of an inflatable bladder 124which lies within a bladder housing 126 affixed to the main housing 114by a pair of threaded fasteners 128. A carrier member 130 is mounted forsliding movement within the housing 114 between a lower position, shownin full lines in FIG. 10, and an upper position, shown in phantom inFIG. 10. The carrier member 130 includes an integral arm 132 which, inturn, carries an integral finger 134 projecting downwardly through anaperture 136 in the bladder housing 126. The carrier member 130 and theintegal arm 132 and finger 134 are all urged downwardly by a helicalspring 138 so that the carrier member is resiliently biased into thelower position thereof.

Upon the introduction of a requisite fluid pressure into the passage122, and consequently into the bladder 124, the bladder will be inflatedwithin the bladder housing 126 and will assume the configuration shownin phantom in FIG. 10 to raise the finger 134 and move the carriermember 130 against the bias of helical spring 138 and into the upperpositionthereof.

The carrier member 130 will remain in the upper position as long as therequisite fluid pressure remains within the bladder 124. Should thefluid pressure within the bladder fall below that which is required tomaintain the carrier member in the upper position against the bias forceof the helical spring 138, the carrier member will return to the lowerposition thereof. Hence, the presence or absence to a requisite fluidpressure at the inlet 116 of the housing 114 is translated into one oftwo positions of the carrier member 130.

As in optical annunciator 10, the window of the optical annunciator 100is provided with a lenticulate lens 140 having an obverse surface 142which includes a plurality of elongate lenticular lens elements 144.While the lenticular lens elements 144 extend parallel to one another,in this instance each lenticular lens element 144 extends along an arc,and the arcs of all of the lenticular elements 144 are of equal radiussuch that lenticulate lens 140 is in the form of a portion of a cylinder(see FIG. 9). The planes of symmetry PP of the lenticular lens elementsare also parallel.

Juxtaposed with the reverse surface 146 of the lenticulate lens 140 is adisplay means shown in the form of a display plate 150 carried by thecarrier member for displacement perpendicular to the planes of symmetryPP through the increment between the aforesaid two positions of thecarrier member. In a manner similar to that described in connection withoptical annunciator 10, the front surface 152 of the display plate 150carries two alternate visual displays, each display being divided into aset of discrete portions. The portions of the first display are in thefonn of strips (not shown) of one color while the portions of the seconddisplay are in the form of strips (not shown) of another color, all ofthe strips running parallel to the planes of symmetry PP andperpendicular to the direction of movement of the carrier member 130.Thus, when the carrier member is in the lower position, a first visualdisplay in the form of one of the colors will be visible at the obversesurface 142 of the lenticulate lens 140. When the carrier member 130 isat its upper position, the second visual display in the form of theother color will be visible at the obverse surface of the lenticulatelens.

As in the earlier described embodiment, the reverse surface 146 of thelenticulate lens is provided with masking means in the form of a grid154 of opaque material for blocking from view, along directions atangles to the planes of symmetry PP, the strips which do not form a partof the visual display revealed in the-window 120.

Because lenticulate lens 140 is in the form of a portion of a cylinder,the carrier member 130 includes a cylindrical profile 156 which iscomplementary to the cylindrical configuration of the reverse surface146 of the lenticulate lens. Likewise, the display plate is arcuate inorder to follow the contour of the reverse surface of the lenticulatelens and the profile of the carrier member. The arcuate configuration ofthe lenticular lens elements 144 and the corresponding cylindricalconfiguration of the lenticulate lens and the display plate, enable thevisual display provided at the window 120 to be viewed over a relativelywide angle of view; that is, the display will be visible over relativelywide angles measured in the planes of symmetry of the respectivelenticular lens elements.

Although the above-described embodiments employ a lenticulate lens whichis either generally flat and planar or a portion of a cylinder, thelenticulate lens may take other forms. For example, the lenticulate lensmay be in the form of a full cylinder or in the form of a sphere. Ineach instance the juxtaposed display means would have a correspondingconfiguration and would be displaced in directions corresponding to thedisplacement described in connection with the above embodiments.

It is to be understood that the above detailed description of preferredembodiments of the invention is provide by way of example only. Variousdetails of design and construction may be modified without departingfrom the true spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An optical annunciator for selectively revealing one of alternatevisual displays for viewing along a given direction of view, saidoptical annunciator comprising:

a lenticulate lens having an obverse surface including a plurality ofelongate lenticular lens elements of prescribed lateral width, eachhaving a plane of symmetry aligned generally parallel with the directionof view and dividing said width, and a reverse surface including aplurality of areas corresponding to said lenticular lens elements, eachsaid area being centered about the plane of symmetry of a correspondinglenticular lens element and having a lateral width between oppositeedges less than the lateral width of said corresponding lenticular lenselement such that adjacent areas are spaced from one another indirections transverse to the planes of symmetry, the contour of eachlenticular lens element being such that each said area of the reversesurface is viewable along said direction of view at the obverse surfaceover essentially the entire corresponding lenticular lens element;

display means juxtaposed with the reverse surface and includingalternate visual displays, each display being divided into a set ofdiscrete portions with each discrete portion of one set being locatedbetween adjacent discrete portions of another set, each discrete portionhaving a lateral extent corresponding generally to the lateral width ofeach said area, and corresponding parts of adjacent portions of each setbeing spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between adjacentplanes of symmetry such that all of the portions of one set may besimultaneously juxtaposed with said areas; opaque masking means centeredbetween said planes of symmetry for blocking from view, along directionsat angles to said planes of symmetry, further of said discrete portionswhich do not form a part of said one set; and

means for selectively moving said display means in increments ofdisplacement transverse to the planes of symmetry of the lenticular lenselements, each said increment corresponding at least to the width ofeach said area of the reverse surface such that any one of saidalternate sets may be located for viewing over essentially the entireobverse surface.

2. The optical annunciator of claim 1 wherein said discrete portions ofeach display include a photoluminescent material responsive to incidentambient light.

3. The optical annunciator of claim 1 wherein said masking meansincludes a grid having bars contiguous with the opposite edges of eachsaid area of the reverse surface and extending between confronting edgesof adjacent areas.

4. The optical annunciator of claim 3 wherein said bars include stripesof opaque material upon the reverse surface between said confrontingedges.

5. The optical annunciator of claim 4 wherein the reverse surfaceincludes a plurality of recesses, each recess being located between saidadjacent areas, and said opaque material is placed within said recesses.

6. The optical annunciator of claim 4 wherein said masking meansincludes further stripes of opaque material upon said display meansbetween adjacent discrete portions of the alternate visual displays,said further stripes overlapping corresponding stripes of opaquematerial upon the reverse surface when any one of said alternate sets ofdiscrete portions is located for viewing over essentially the entireobverse surface.

7. The optical annunciator of claim 4 wherein:

the reverse surface includes a plurality of recesses, each recess beinglocated between said adjacent areas;

first stripes of opaque material placed within said recesses;

and

second stripes of opaque material upon said display means betweenadjacent discrete portions of the alternate visual displays, said secondstripes overlapping corresponding first stripes of opaque material whenone of said alternate sets of discrete portions is located for viewingover essentially the entire obverse surface.

8. The optical annunciator of claim 1 wherein:

the lenticular lens elements extend parallel to one another and theplanes of symmetry are parallel;

the discrete portions of each display include laterally spaced parallelstrips which, when integrated, form a complete visual display; and

the means for selectively moving the display means includes a carriermovable in increments of lateral displacement and having a surfacejuxtaposed with the reverse surface of the lenticulate lens, saidparallel strips being located upon said surface for lateral movementwith the carrier.

9. The optical annunciator of claim 8 wherein said strips include aphotoluminescent material responsive to incident ambient light.

10. The optical annunciator of claim 8 wherein each lenticular lenselement extends along a straight line.

11. The optical annunciator of claim 10 wherein the lenticulate lenslies in a plane.

12. The optical annunciator of claim 8 wherein each lenticular lenselement extends along an are.

13. The optical annunciator of claim 12 wherein the arcs of all of thelenticular lens elements are of equal radius and the lenticulate lens isa portion of a cylinder.

14. The optical annunciator of claim 8 wherein:

the display means includes at least two alternate visual displays; and

the means for selectively moving the display means includes aquick-acting mechanism for rapidly moving the carrier laterally betweena first position where the strips of one of said two alternate visualdisplays are juxtaposed with said plurality of areas of the reversesurface of the lenticulate lens and a second position where the stripsof theother of said two alternate visual displays are juxtaposed withsaid plurality of areas.

15. The optical annunciator of claim 8 wherein:

the display means includes at least two alternate visual displays, eachstrip of a display having a lateral width no greater than one-half thewidth of a corresponding juxtaposed lenticular lens element;

each said area of the reverse surface has a lateral width no greaterthan one-half the width of a corresponding lenticular lens element; and

the masking means includes a grid having longitudinal parallel barscontiguous with the opposite edges of each said area and extendingbetween confronting edges of adjacent areas, said bars includinglongitudinal parallel stripes of opaque material upon the reversesurface between said confronting edges, said stripes having a lateralwidth of no less than one-half the width of a corresponding lenticularlens element.

16. The optical annunciator of claim 15 wherein the reverse surface ofthe lenticulate lens includes a plurality of longitudinal parallelrecesses located between said adjacent areas, said recesses each havinga lateral width of no less than onehalf the lateral width of acorresponding lenticular lens element, and said opaque material islocated within said recesses.

17. The optical annunciator of claim 15 wherein:

the strips of each display have a lateral width of slightly less thanone-half the width of a corresponding lenticular lens element and thelateral distance between corresponding parts of adjacent strips of bothof said two displays is onehalf the width of a corresponding lenticularlens element so that said adjacent strips are laterally spaced apartslightly; and

the masking means includes further stripes of opaque material upon saiddisplay means within the spacing between said adjacent strips, saidfurther stripes overlapping corresponding stripes of the opaque materialon the reverse surface.

18. The optical annunciator of claim 15 wherein:

the reverse surface of the lenticulate lens includes a plurality oflongitudinal parallel recesses located between said adjacent areas, saidrecesses each having a lateral width of no less than one-half thelateral width of a corresponding lenticular lens element, said opaquematerial being located within said recesses;

the strips of each display have a lateral width of slightly less thanone-half the width of a corresponding lenticular lens element and thelateral distance between corresponding parts of adjacent strips of bothof said two displays in onehalf the width of a corresponding lenticularlens element so that said adjacent strips are laterally spaced apartslightly; and

the masking means includes further stripes of opaque material upon saiddisplay means within the spacing between said adjacent strips, saidfurther stripes overlapping corresponding stripes of the opaque materialwithin the recesses in the reverse surface.

19. The optical annunciator of claim 18 wherein each lenticular lenselement extends along a straight line.

20. The optical annunciator of claim 19 wherein the lenticulate lenslies in a plane.

21. The optical annunciator of claim 18 wherein each lenticular lenselement extends along an are.

22. The optical annunciator of claim 21 wherein the arcs of all of thelenticular lens elements are of equal radius and the lenticulate lens isa portion of a cylinder.

23. The optical annunciator of claim 18 wherein the means forselectively moving the display means includes a quick-acting mechanismfor rapidly moving the carrier through an increment of lateraldisplacement equal to the lateral distance between corresponding partsof said adjacent strips on the carrier between a first position wherethe strips of one of said two alternate visual displays are juxtaposedwith said plurality of areas of the reverse surface of the lenticulatelens and a second position where the strips of the other of said twoalternate visual displays are juxtaposed with said plurality of areas.

24. The optical annunciator of claim 18 wherein said strips include aphotoluminescent material responsive to incident ambient light.

1. An optical annunciator for selectively revealing one of alternatevisual displays foR viewing along a given direction of view, saidoptical annunciator comprising: a lenticulate lens having an obversesurface including a plurality of elongate lenticular lens elements ofprescribed lateral width, each having a plane of symmetry alignedgenerally parallel with the direction of view and dividing said width,and a reverse surface including a plurality of areas corresponding tosaid lenticular lens elements, each said area being centered about theplane of symmetry of a corresponding lenticular lens element and havinga lateral width between opposite edges less than the lateral width ofsaid corresponding lenticular lens element such that adjacent areas arespaced from one another in directions transverse to the planes ofsymmetry, the contour of each lenticular lens element being such thateach said area of the reverse surface is viewable along said directionof view at the obverse surface over essentially the entire correspondinglenticular lens element; display means juxtaposed with the reversesurface and including alternate visual displays, each display beingdivided into a set of discrete portions with each discrete portion ofone set being located between adjacent discrete portions of another set,each discrete portion having a lateral extent corresponding generally tothe lateral width of each said area, and corresponding parts of adjacentportions of each set being spaced apart a distance equal to the spacingbetween adjacent planes of symmetry such that all of the portions of oneset may be simultaneously juxtaposed with said areas; opaque maskingmeans centered between said planes of symmetry for blocking from view,along directions at angles to said planes of symmetry, further of saiddiscrete portions which do not form a part of said one set; and meansfor selectively moving said display means in increments of displacementtransverse to the planes of symmetry of the lenticular lens elements,each said increment corresponding at least to the width of each saidarea of the reverse surface such that any one of said alternate sets maybe located for viewing over essentially the entire obverse surface. 2.The optical annunciator of claim 1 wherein said discrete portions ofeach display include a photoluminescent material responsive to incidentambient light.
 3. The optical annunciator of claim 1 wherein saidmasking means includes a grid having bars contiguous with the oppositeedges of each said area of the reverse surface and extending betweenconfronting edges of adjacent areas.
 4. The optical annunciator of claim3 wherein said bars include stripes of opaque material upon the reversesurface between said confronting edges.
 5. The optical annunciator ofclaim 4 wherein the reverse surface includes a plurality of recesses,each recess being located between said adjacent areas, and said opaquematerial is placed within said recesses.
 6. The optical annunciator ofclaim 4 wherein said masking means includes further stripes of opaquematerial upon said display means between adjacent discrete portions ofthe alternate visual displays, said further stripes overlappingcorresponding stripes of opaque material upon the reverse surface whenany one of said alternate sets of discrete portions is located forviewing over essentially the entire obverse surface.
 7. The opticalannunciator of claim 4 wherein: the reverse surface includes a pluralityof recesses, each recess being located between said adjacent areas;first stripes of opaque material placed within said recesses; and secondstripes of opaque material upon said display means between adjacentdiscrete portions of the alternate visual displays, said second stripesoverlapping corresponding first stripes of opaque material when one ofsaid alternate sets of discrete portions is located for viewing overessentially the entire obverse surface.
 8. The optical annunciator ofclaim 1 wherein: the lenticular lens elements extend parallel to onEanother and the planes of symmetry are parallel; the discrete portionsof each display include laterally spaced parallel strips which, whenintegrated, form a complete visual display; and the means forselectively moving the display means includes a carrier movable inincrements of lateral displacement and having a surface juxtaposed withthe reverse surface of the lenticulate lens, said parallel strips beinglocated upon said surface for lateral movement with the carrier.
 9. Theoptical annunciator of claim 8 wherein said strips include aphotoluminescent material responsive to incident ambient light.
 10. Theoptical annunciator of claim 8 wherein each lenticular lens elementextends along a straight line.
 11. The optical annunciator of claim 10wherein the lenticulate lens lies in a plane.
 12. The opticalannunciator of claim 8 wherein each lenticular lens element extendsalong an arc.
 13. The optical annunciator of claim 12 wherein the arcsof all of the lenticular lens elements are of equal radius and thelenticulate lens is a portion of a cylinder.
 14. The optical annunciatorof claim 8 wherein: the display means includes at least two alternatevisual displays; and the means for selectively moving the display meansincludes a quick-acting mechanism for rapidly moving the carrierlaterally between a first position where the strips of one of said twoalternate visual displays are juxtaposed with said plurality of areas ofthe reverse surface of the lenticulate lens and a second position wherethe strips of the other of said two alternate visual displays arejuxtaposed with said plurality of areas.
 15. The optical annunciator ofclaim 8 wherein: the display means includes at least two alternatevisual displays, each strip of a display having a lateral width nogreater than one-half the width of a corresponding juxtaposed lenticularlens element; each said area of the reverse surface has a lateral widthno greater than one-half the width of a corresponding lenticular lenselement; and the masking means includes a grid having longitudinalparallel bars contiguous with the opposite edges of each said area andextending between confronting edges of adjacent areas, said barsincluding longitudinal parallel stripes of opaque material upon thereverse surface between said confronting edges, said stripes having alateral width of no less than one-half the width of a correspondinglenticular lens element.
 16. The optical annunciator of claim 15 whereinthe reverse surface of the lenticulate lens includes a plurality oflongitudinal parallel recesses located between said adjacent areas, saidrecesses each having a lateral width of no less than one-half thelateral width of a corresponding lenticular lens element, and saidopaque material is located within said recesses.
 17. The opticalannunciator of claim 15 wherein: the strips of each display have alateral width of slightly less than one-half the width of acorresponding lenticular lens element and the lateral distance betweencorresponding parts of adjacent strips of both of said two displays isone-half the width of a corresponding lenticular lens element so thatsaid adjacent strips are laterally spaced apart slightly; and themasking means includes further stripes of opaque material upon saiddisplay means within the spacing between said adjacent strips, saidfurther stripes overlapping corresponding stripes of the opaque materialon the reverse surface.
 18. The optical annunciator of claim 15 wherein:the reverse surface of the lenticulate lens includes a plurality oflongitudinal parallel recesses located between said adjacent areas, saidrecesses each having a lateral width of no less than one-half thelateral width of a corresponding lenticular lens element, said opaquematerial being located within said recesses; the strips of each displayhave a lateral width of slightly less than one-half the width of acorresponding lenticular lens Element and the lateral distance betweencorresponding parts of adjacent strips of both of said two displays inone-half the width of a corresponding lenticular lens element so thatsaid adjacent strips are laterally spaced apart slightly; and themasking means includes further stripes of opaque material upon saiddisplay means within the spacing between said adjacent strips, saidfurther stripes overlapping corresponding stripes of the opaque materialwithin the recesses in the reverse surface.
 19. The optical annunciatorof claim 18 wherein each lenticular lens element extends along astraight line.
 20. The optical annunciator of claim 19 wherein thelenticulate lens lies in a plane.
 21. The optical annunciator of claim18 wherein each lenticular lens element extends along an arc.
 22. Theoptical annunciator of claim 21 wherein the arcs of all of thelenticular lens elements are of equal radius and the lenticulate lens isa portion of a cylinder.
 23. The optical annunciator of claim 18 whereinthe means for selectively moving the display means includes aquick-acting mechanism for rapidly moving the carrier through anincrement of lateral displacement equal to the lateral distance betweencorresponding parts of said adjacent strips on the carrier between afirst position where the strips of one of said two alternate visualdisplays are juxtaposed with said plurality of areas of the reversesurface of the lenticulate lens and a second position where the stripsof the other of said two alternate visual displays are juxtaposed withsaid plurality of areas.
 24. The optical annunciator of claim 18 whereinsaid strips include a photoluminescent material responsive to incidentambient light.